arnold



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

K. ARNOLD 8n J. J. GERBER.

ZITHER.

Patented Apr.7, 1885.

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e [ll WITNESSES X INVENTOR S A 17 'an v4 2 J3 J 6 5322? BY a. %%z-mfl ATTORNEYS N. PETERS. mwwLnhu m her. waahh mn. D. C.

(N0 MbdeL) 4 SheetsSheet 2. K. ARNOLD & J. J. GERBER.

ZITHER. No. 315,376. Patented Apr. '7, 1885.

N, PETERS, FlInlG-Lllhflgnphel, Washington D. t:v

(No Model) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. K. ARNOLD & J. J. GERBER.

ZITHER. No. 315,376. v Fly/f, Patented Apr. 7, 1885.

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a" Z 7 EL a1; Jain jig W557" www'mvvqwzw BY a ATTORNEYS N. PETER5. Phctu-Lllhographor. Wailuinflan. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KILIAN ARNOLD, OF BROOKLYN, AND JOHN J. GERBER, OF JAMAICA, Y.

ZITHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 315,376, dated April 7, 1885.

Application filed August 21, 1884.

.it consists in the combination, with the lead ing-strings, the pitches of which are changed by fingering in the usual manner, of accompanying strings, the pitches of which are changed at will by the performer without interrupting the performance. For this purpose pedals may be used which are connected with the accompanying-strings by suitable mechanism, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section in the plane m, Fig. 6. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section in the plane y y, Fig. 6. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section in the plane z .2, Fig. 6. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section in the plane xm, Fig. 6. Fig. 5 is a plan view. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section in the plane yy, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is avertical longitudinal section along the accompanying-strings.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

The letter Aindicates the side wa1ls,which, together with the back B, the bottom 0, and the partition-wall 13, form the casing D of the instrument. a are theleading-strings, stretched on the sounding-board B in the usual manner b hitchins c and tunin )ins c. a

are the accompanying-strings, stretched on the sounding-board B by hitch-pins d and tuning-pins d. e are the bass-strings, stretched on the sounding-board B by means of tuning pins e and hitch-pins 6'. On the bottom 0 of the casing is a stringer,c, on which are pivoted a row of alternating long pedals, a, and short pedals Z).

c are springs secured to the bottom 0, and acting against the bottom of the pedals a b, so as to return the same to their original position after being depressed.

(No model.)

Z) are posts fastened to the bottom 0, under each of the pedals a b,allowing the pedals only a certain limited downward motion. In this row of pedals a Z; the long pedals a connect with the rods '13 back of the partition B. The rods t in turn connect with arms j, which are firmly secured to the lower series of rockshafts it, running horizontally back of the partition B. ings in the vertical post Z, and in bearings l, secured to the partition B.

To the rock-shafts 7c are secured arinsn, similar to the arms j.

p p are a set of levers pivoted to the frame g, which is secured to the casing of the instrument. The two top rows oflevers p are connected with the arms a on the rock-shafts k by rods 0. i.

s s are another set of levers pivoted to the frame 1",which is also secured to the casing D. The two top rows of levers, s, are engaged by the levers p.

In the sounding-board B are two apertures, 7c7c, through which pass wires 13 it, provided on their upper ends with hooks tt,l+ig. 3, passing over the accompanying-strings a, and over their lower ends are slipped spiral springs b, and secured to the same. The springs b, abutting against the piece at, Fig. 3, keep the hooks 2, t drawn tightly on the accompanying-strings a. The wires t pass through the unengaged arms of the levers es, and are secured to the levers by collars 0r nuts E. Said nuts E are firmly secured to the wires 25 t, and rest on the top of the levers 88, so that when the lever-arm. of one of the levers s s is raised the corresponding hook or These rock-shafts is turn in bearand engage the upper two rows of levers s, are 5 instrumental in operating two hooks. Near each of the two apertures 7c" 70' are placed bridges o 10, Figs. 5 and 7, the bridge 1; near the aperture 7t being slightly lower than the bridge w near the aperture 70, (see Fig. 7,)

while the bridge w is lower than the bridge w a block, w, extending over any desirable numat the end of the sounding-board B, so that when the strings are drawn down upon the bridge to they will still clear the bridge 1:. The short pedals I) connect with rods 2" back of the partition 13. The rods z" in turn connect with arms j, firmly secured at right angles to the upper horizontal series of rockshafts, 7c. The same turn in bearings in the vertical post Z, andin bearings Z, secured to the partition-wall B.

To the rock-shafts 7c are secured arms a, connecting with the two lower rows of levers 1;,pivoted to the frame q. These levers 1) connect with the two lower rows of levers, s, of the levers s s, which are connected with one wire it each; consequently the levers p, to which are connected the short pedals Z), are instrumentalin operating one hook t each.

Above the row of pedals a b is another row of alternating long pedals,d, andshort pedals e, pivoted to the stringer f. To another stringer, h, are fastened springs g, pressing against the bottom of the pedals cl 0, so as to return them to their original position after being depressed.

b are posts secured to the stringer h, and allowing the pedals only a limited downward motion. In this row of pedals d 0 part of the pedals (in the drawings the first eight are shown) connect with rods f, which are con nected with a series of rock-shafts, j, in front of the partition B by means of the arms 9. The rock-shafts work in bearings in the post L, and in bearings in the piece M, secured to the partition B.

To the rock-shafts j are secured other arms, a, passing through an opening, m", in the partition B, back of the same, where they connect with rods 0", which in turn connect with levers 19, secured to the stringer N, said leversp operating the hammer-action A,which is made and operated in the usual manner of operating and making such actions. The hammers of the hammer-action pass through an opening in the sounding-board B and strike the bass-strings e, as is usually done. The remaining pedals in the row (1 e are connected with rods f, which connect with arms The arms 9 are secured to a series of horizontal rock-shafts, j, in front of the partition B, and working in hearings in the post L, and in bearings 011/, secured to the partition 13.

To the rock-shafts j are secured arms a at right angles to the same, and are connected with levers p by rods 0, the levers 12 operating the hammers as before.

A, Fig. 3, is a pedal pivoted to the partition B, and connected by a rod, 25, and arm a with a rock-shaft, s, turning in a bearing, 12, secured to the casing, and a bearing, 1), secured to thetop of the frame 9. Other arms, a, secured to the rock-shaft 8, connect with rods 10", which pass through the soundingboard 13, and connect over the strings a with her of the strings a. \Vhen the pedal A is depressed, the block to is brought down upon the strings a, forcing them on the bridge 10', which bridge is lower than the bridge 1;, (see I i g. 7 for the same reason before mentioned.

In the operation of the instrument, when one of the long pedals a in the lower row of pedals is depressed by the foot of the player by the mechanism before described, the arm of the corresponding lever, 11, to which the rod 0 is attached, is drawn down, and the end of the lever s to which the wires 25 t are attached is consequently raised, and two hooks, tt, are lifted from the corresponding accompanyingstring a, releasing the samefrom both bridges v w on the sounding-board 13, lowering the pitch of the string by a whole note.

When one of the short pedals bis depressed similarly, the arm of the corresponding lever 12, to which the rod 0 is attached, is drawn down, and consequently the arm of the lever s to which one wire 15 is attached is raised, and one hook t is lifted from the corresponding accompanying string a, releasing the same from the bridge '0, whereby the pitch of the string is lowered by one-half a note. XVhen one of the pedals of the upper row of pedals d e is depressed by the mechanism before described, the hammer-action is set into motion. and the corresponding bass-string e, stretched over the sounding-board B, is sounded. When the pedal A is depressed, as before stated, the block to is brought down upon the accompanying-strings a,raising the pitch of the strings by a whole octave. The block to can extend over as many strings as may be desired. In the drawings it extends over all; but ashorter block may be used.

The instrument is played as follows: On the leading-strings a the melody is played with the fingers, and the pitch of the strings is changed by fingering in the usual manner. The accompanying-strings a are also struck by the fingers; but the pitches of the same are changed by the performer by depressing the lower pedals, a b. The bassstrings c are struck by the hammer-action in connection with the upper row of pedals d e.

That we claim as new, and d esireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a zither, the combination of leadingstrings, the pitches of which are changed by fingering in the usual manner,accompanyingstrings, a series of hooks therefor for changing their pitches, and a series of pedals connected to and controlling the hooks, whereby the pitches of the accompanying-strings are under control of and changed at the will of the operator without interrupting the performance, substantially as described.

2. In a zither, the combination, substantially as hereinbefore shown and described, with the accompanying-strings a, of the additional bridges v w, the hooks i, the wires '6,

the levers s s and p p, the arms n n, the rock- In testimony whereof we have hereunto set IO shafts k k, arms j j, rodsz' i, and the pedals our hands and seals in the presence of two a b. subscribing witnesses.

3. In a zither, the combination, substan- T T 5 tially as hereinbefore shown and described, with the accompanying-strings a,of the addi- J tional bridge w, the block w, the rods 10, lVitnesses: the arms to", the arms u, the rod 25, and the W. HAUFF, pedal A.

E. F. KAs'rENHUBER. 

